Silence.
The importance of silence is revealed to writers, painters, singers and other artistic disciplines through listening. How? We are taught that silence is devoid of sound. It is not. Birds’ wings in flight make a rhythmic melody by the beating of their wings. We cannot hear it. Yet, if we came close enough, the rhythm would entrance us. There are many melodies that are unheard but they exist. Sonar, underwater songs go fast or slow. What are sounds that you believe are out there?
Again I ask, how do we write the silent language of the living universe? Perhaps with a certain discipline we can begin to tune into this language.
Sit in a chair with feet flat on the floor,
let the cocyx, the bottom bone of the spine, the lower back touch the chair.
Make sure the spine is straight.
Just listen for a minimum of 30 seconds.
This is not a meditation.
This is active listening.
It is the basis of all art forms.
It is how Beethoven was able to compose while being deaf.
It is how some people think themselves into concentration.
Writing is not lonely when it is thought of as an action, an act of doing.
Yes, we are alone when writing but it is a form of focusing on listening to the depths of
our own self-expression that we want to bring forth and share.
Active listening tunes our ears to focus on silence or sound.
Become aware of all that you "observe" with your ears. Do you live on a busy street with lots of traffic?
Does the flow of traffic sound like a symphony, getting louder or softer? When the phone rings does your ear flinch or can you tell what note it is? What sounds do you hear in your daily life?
Does the opening and closing of a drawer draw your attention? The sound of running water in the sink or shower? How does listening to people who speak other languages capture your attention?
Often we describe “soundless observations” as "nothing". Something devoid of sound is not nothing. When we train our ears to hear beyond our expectations, we open to whole new worlds of wonder.
Some people in big cities are aware of the cadences of traffic.
In the country it could be the clatter of birdsong.
In stillness it could be the pulsation of blood flowing through the veins.
Active listening is a true exercise
Honey Novick.